As from tomorrow I �ll be teaching a group of athletes and I �m wondering if anyone out there could help me with this old classic : If someone is a professional swimmer and gets the question "what sports do you do" should he/she answer "I swim" ? Would he/she really say :  �I go swimming � ? And if he/she has swimming practise the same day what would he/she say "I have swimming practise this afternoon" or "I �m going swimming this afternoon"? Am I right when I feel that the second sentence is (and that this goes for all �go � + -ing) more appropriate when we �re dealing with recreational swimmers ? I know this is a much discussed question but I haven �t been able to find a satisfying answer, only lists of when you use do, go (+ sports ending in -ing), play.

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

 

Elisabeth

When I swam in high school I used to say:

 

" I swim." or " I �m a swimmer."  (used also say I was a fish ;-) )

 

and I used to go to "swim practice"

 

I can �t tell you if it �s correct, but it is what was in practical use.

 

Douglas

 

Regards,

 

Elisabeth